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arXiv:2402.11132 · Physical Review A

Evolution of strictly localized states in noninteracting quantum field theories with background fields

M. Alkhateeb, A. Matzkin

Published Jun 20, 2024• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We investigate the construction of spin-1/2 fermionic and spin-0 bosonic wavepackets having compact spatial support in the framework of a computational quantum field theory (QFT) scheme offering space-time solutions of the relativistic wave equations in background fields. To construct perfectly localized wavepackets, we introduce a spatial density operator accounting for particles of both positive and negative charge. We examine properties of the vacuum and single-particle expectation values of this operator and compare them to the standard QFT particle and antiparticle spatial densities. The formalism is illustrated by computing numerically the Klein tunneling dynamics of strictly localized wavepackets impinging on a supercritical electrostatic step. The density operator introduced here could be useful to model situations in which it is desirable to avoid dealing with the infinite spatial tails intrinsic to pure particle or antiparticle wavepackets.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.109.062223

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We investigate the construction of spin-1/2 fermionic and spin-0 bosonic wavepackets having compact spatial support in the framework of a computational quantum field theory (QFT) scheme offering space-time solutions of the relativistic wave equations in background fields. To construct perfectly localized wavepackets, we introduce a spatial density operator accounting for particles of both positive and negative charge. We examine properties of the vacuum and single-particle expectation values of this operator and compare them to the standard QFT particle and antiparticle spatial densities. The formalism is illustrated by computing numerically the Klein tunneling dynamics of strictly localized wavepackets impinging on a supercritical electrostatic step. The density operator introduced here could be useful to model situations in which it is desirable to avoid dealing with the infinite spatial tails intrinsic to pure particle or antiparticle wavepackets.
Abstract We employ reduced density matrices to investigate the localization of relativistic particles within the framework of (1+1)(1+1)(1+1) ( 1 + 1 ) -dimensional quantum field theory. In the case of bosons, we prove that scalar particles cannot be localized within any compact region, although they can be made arbitrarily close to localized states. For massless fermions, by exploiting properties of the reduced density matrices of coherent states, we show that the fermionic single-particle state which, under constructive bosonization, corresponds to a bosonic coherent state is strictly localized at a single spatial point; however, the energy of this state is infinite. Moreover, since the notion of spatial localization based on reduced density matrices is consistent with relativistic causality, even a particle with infinite energy that is localized at a single spatial point will neither spread outside the light cone nor propagate superluminally. Indeed, the explicit expression for the localized fermionic state derived in our work shows that a massless fermion can preserve its sharply localized profile while propagating at the speed of light, in full agreement with causality.
We investigate relativistic wavepacket dynamics for an electron tunneling through a potential barrier employing space-time resolved solutions to relativistic quantum field theory (QFT) equations. We prove by linking the QFT property of micro-causality to the wavepacket behavior that the tunneling dynamics is fully causal, precluding instantaneous or superluminal effects that have recently been reported in the literature. We illustrate these results by performing numerical computations for an electron tunneling through a potential barrier for standard tunneling as well for Klein tunneling. In all cases (Klein tunneling \ or regular tunneling across a standard or a supercritical potential) the transmitted wavepacket remains in the causal envelope of the propagator, even when its average position lies ahead of the average position of the corresponding freely propagated wavepacket.
We study the evolutions of selected quasi-(1+1) dimensional wavepacket solutions to the Klein–Gordon equation for a relativistic charged particle in uniform motion or accelerated by a uniform electric field in Minkowski space . We explore how good the charge density of a Klein–Gordon wavepacket can be approximately described by a Gaussian state with the single-particle interpretation. We find that the minimal initial width of a wavepacket for a good Gaussian approximation in position space is about the Compton wavelength of the particle divided by its Lorentz factor at the initial moment. This can be considered as a manifestation of relativistic length contraction, which is also observed numerically in the spreading of the wavepacket’s charge density.
In the context of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, Gaussian wavepacket solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation provide useful physical insight. This is not the case for relativistic quantum mechanics, however, for which both the Klein-Gordon and Dirac wave equations result in strange and counterintuitive wavepacket behaviors, even for free-particle Gaussians. These behaviors include zitterbewegung and other interference effects. As a potential remedy, this paper explores a new trajectory-based formulation of quantum mechanics, in which the wavefunction plays no role [ Phys. Rev. X , 4 , 040002 (2014)]. Quantum states are represented as ensembles of trajectories, whose mutual interaction is the source of all quantum effects observed in nature—suggesting a "many interacting worlds" interpretation. It is shown that the relativistic generalization of the trajectory-based formulation results in well-behaved free-particle Gaussian wavepacket solutions. In particular, probability density is positive and well-localized everywhere, and its spatial integral is conserved over time—in any inertial frame. Finally, the ensemble-averaged wavepacket motion is along a straight line path through spacetime. In this manner, the pathologies of the wave-based relativistic quantum theory, as applied to wavepacket propagation, are avoided.
We discuss relations between several relativistic spin observables and derive a Lorentz-invariant characteristic of a reduced spin density matrix. A relativistic position operator that satisfies all the properties of its nonrelativistic analog does not exist. Instead we propose two causality-preserving positive operator-valued measures (POVMs) that are based on projections onto one-particle and antiparticle spaces, and on the normalized energy density. They predict identical expectation values for position. The variances differ by less than a quarter of the squared de Broglie wavelength and coincide in the nonrelativistic limit. Since the resulting statistical moment operators are not canonical conjugates of momentum, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations need not hold. Indeed, the energy density POVM leads to a lower uncertainty. We reformulate the standard equations of the spin dynamics by explicitly considering the charge-independent acceleration, allowing a consistent treatment of backreaction and inclusion of a weak gravitational field.
We discuss relations between several relativistic spin observables and derive a Lorentz-invariant characteristic of a reduced spin density matrix.A relativistic position operator that satisfies all the properties of its nonrelativistic analog does not exist. Instead we propose two causality-preserving positive operator-valued measures (POVMs) that are based on projections onto one-particle and antiparticle spaces, and on the normalized energy density. They predict identical expectation values for position. The variances differ by less than a quarter of the squared de Broglie wavelength and coincide in the nonrelativistic limit. Since the resulting statistical moment operators are not canonical conjugates of momentum, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations need not hold. Indeed, the energy density POVM leads to a lower uncertainty. We reformulate the standard equations of the spin dynamics by explicitly considering the charge-independent acceleration, allowing a consistent treatment of backreaction and inclusion of a weak gravitational field.